Authorize Details

When someone who has authority, power, or is in charge authorizes something, they give official permission to follow up on a procedure, act, or another significant move. In other words, to authorize means to endorse an action or person.

The verb authorize applies to a variety of situations:

  • Banks authorize payments after they make sure that the client's available funds are sufficient.
  • Employers authorize or designate certain employees to perform specific duties.
  • Governments authorize non-citizens to work in the country.
  • Hospitals authorize procedures or medication intake for individual patients.
  • Insurance providers authorize payments after making sure that the claims meet certain requirements as per the signed contract.
  • In times of illness, an individual authorizes another individual to act on their behalf.
  • A server rules if a user has permission to access a file.

There are some procedures in a company that carry a high risk, and as such, they can't be accessed by everyone. Usually, they have to be authorized by a manager by either written notice, by scanning an employee card, or by other means of giving permission.

Real-World Example of Authorize

Experts have pushed the Food and Drug Administration to fully authorize the Moderna and the Pfizer Coronavirus vaccines in recent news. As of now, doctors administer the shots under emergency use authorization and professionals argue that if they're fully approved, more Americans will get the vaccines.

In other developments, Rhode Island is about to pass legislation that will authorize "harm reduction centers," where official workers can monitor people as they take drugs. The hope is that fewer drug users will overdose.

Authorize vs. Authenticate

To illustrate the term authorize better, we can compare it to authenticate. In computer science, authorization, authentication, and encryption are all security sources. When it comes to an authentication process, the server determines who is trying to access the information. With authorization, the server determines if the client has permission to access this information.

Authorize vs. Permission

Authorize is similar to permission but at a greater level. When someone seeks permission, they aren't necessarily following up on what they want to do right away. It isn't an official kick-off to a plan. When someone authorizes something, there is usually swift follow-up and higher risks involved.

Types of Authorize

In computer science, authorize is used in a variety of situations. The terms below describe unique types of computer authorizations in an organization depending on the number of people that need it, the level of authority that has to be awarded, and others. Programmers assign authorization types as needed.

  • Root access authorization to access any source on a device.
  • Digital identity: attributes like a number, a code, or a group of attributes used to identify a user that may be a person or an organization
  • The organizational unit authorizes that a group of people grouped by departments, projects, job title, and others is granted a set of rights.
  • Principle of least privilege: minimum authorization given to users to complete their work.
  • Token: an object that is given as a guarantee or entitlement. A token may secure digital or other resources like time granted, a ticket for a trip, or equivalent cash.